DPCA BREEDERS EDUCATION Q & A - 2003 PAGE 2


Q: from Maria Martinez
Date: September 8, 2003
Time: 21:12:12
 
Comments: Doberman Health
 
Hi. My Doberman puppy is 15 weeks old and weighs 29 lbs. After the ear cropping he became sick and lost weight. I was wondering how much he should be weighing now and is his height doing good as well.
 
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

Just weighing a puppy is not going to tell you if he/she is over, under or normal weight because every pup grows differently. The best way to judge this is to just look at the dog.  Are any ribs or hipbones showing?  Does he look thin to you or fat?  You didn't mention why he became sick and how long ago it was and if he gained his normal weight back at all.

Talk to his breeder or someone who knows the Doberman breed that can see him and ask them if the pup is in good weight.

 

 
Q: from Sheila
Date: September 9, 2003
Time: 20:00:37
 
Comments: Doberman Health
 
I have a 4 month old Dobie. At first she had these things under her neck that looked like moles. I took off her collar to see if they would go away but she keeps getting more on other parts of her body. What are they and what should I do. The Vet doesn't have any idea. Thank you.
 
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

Most moles are caused by a virus of some sort.  I'd take the dog to another Vet or a Dermatologist Vet for another opinion.

If it's bumps it could be from Staph but a Vet is the only one who can diagnose and treat something like this.
 

 
Q: from Teri Hoke
Date: Wednesday, September 3, 2003
Time: 18:03:40

Comments: Breeding the Doberman
 
When should I expect my Dobe to go into heat for the first time?  She is now almost 7 months old.
 
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

Bitches come into season anytime from 6 months of age to 15 months.  Occasionally I've
heard of some coming in at 5 months but the average is about 8 or 9 months of age.
 

Q: from Roland R. Ryall
Date: Tuesday, September 2, 2003
Time:10:39:34
 
Comments: Grading the Doberman Puppy
 
I am troubled by the answer on Doberman's coats...are cowlicks acceptable when showing or are points taken away?

A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

Hello Roland,

You didn't say where you are from.  In Australia and England Cowlicks are frowned upon.

Here in the U.S. and Canada, they are not taken into consideration.  Many, many of the top Dobes have had cowlicks of varying sizes and shapes on the nose, neck, shoulder, end of rib cage, and under the throat.

I always look for them in my own litters as most of those in by breeding have been the best ones when they have a cowlick.

 


Q: from Holly Broughton
Date: Monday, September 1, 2003
Time: 23:51:48
 
Comments: WAE and Hives?
 
Hello,
 
I am not sure if you can help with this or not but I am very interested in having my Doberman bitch go through the WAE.  I am not sure how to find out when they hold the tests in my area or maybe they don't.  I live in North Central MN.  I tried contacting the Doberman club in the Twin Cities, but received no response.  Any info would be greatly appreciated. 
 
I am considering breeding her later on down the road but of course that would be after the necessary health tests are done. I am currently showing her in the breed and obedience. 
 
You mentioned that they should have the WAE done before breeding takes place but would it be wrong to breed her if there is not a test in my area and therefore I cannot get it done. I want to try to do everything right as best I can.
 
I plan on continuing with the obedience (she already has two legs toward her CDX at 22 months old) and is a CGC and a certified therapy dog (TDI) so she has had temperament testing done in those respects. 
 
Also when I take her to shows she breaks out in hives on her neck and back but they usually start getting better towards the end of the weekend and of course are completely gone when I return home.  Have you seen this before, other people have told me it is probably just stress related. She doesn't act stressed though and is a very easy going girl. We have a Dane that does the same thing.  Thanks for your time and sorry this is so long!
 
A:
from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
 
Your bitch sounds like she has a lovely disposition.  No, it's not necessary for her to have a WAE certificate before breeding but it is helpful as are other factors.  You say you show your bitch in breed.  I take it then she's show quality.  I'd contact her breeder for info on a suitable stud dog for her as well.

You might contact Terri Devlin (DDecodobes@aol.com) and she might be able to give you some info on any WAE tests in the MN area.

As to breaking out in hives, it sounds like it might possibly be bathing her prior to showing.  It sometimes causes hives if the shampoo is not mild enough or more importantly, if she is not rinsed thoroughly.  Make sure she is rinsed completely under legs and belly and soapy water doesn't get between her toes that isn't rinsed off.  Since this also happens to your Dane as well this might be the cause.  Also, re-consider any coat sprays or anything you might put on her before being shown.
 
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A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
 
For WAE tests in your area, I believe you can go to the DPCA web site and there should be a link to test dates and locations.  That's www.dpca.org.  Good luck.
 

Q: from Cathy Tilley

Date: Monday, September 1, 2003
Time: 06:03:54

Comments: Where did my Doberman come from?
 
I rescued a 3 month old Dobie from our animal shelter. He has a tattoo on his inner right leg/thigh area. I think its a breeder's tattoo:  BD67.  I adore this dog and would love to find his origin to possibly buy another.  Thank-you!
 

A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

Since this is not a national tattooing number, it may be the breeder's initials and the number might be the number of pups this breeder has had. Its just a thought.
 
There really is no way other than the information the shelter might give you to find out the origin of this pup.

I sure as heck wouldn't try to find this breeder to buy another pup.  He obviously didn't care where THIS one went.  Just love it and find a good, reputable, ethical breeder for your next pup.
 
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
 
I believe tattoos are very difficult to trace unless someone recognizes the type of tattoo. 
 
You might try contacting a rescue organization in your area as they are fairly familiar with the local breeders and their habits.  There may be one that uses tattoos such as you describe.
 

 
Q: from Gilbert
Date: Saturday, August 30, 2003
Time: 10:50:24

Comments: Breeding the Doberman
 
The vet already saw my Dobe and he said that it's okay because its not yet been a month. So why am I worried? The vet only prescribed medicine that could stop the bleeding but still I'm worried. She is still bleeding but only a few drops the color of which is black mixed with red. It's already been 6 days and she still has spotting.

A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

My suggestion is to see another Vet that specializes in breeding.


 
Q: from Sandra Menders
Date: Wednesday, August 27, 2003
Time: 19:54:46

Comments: Tail Docking
 
We had all the Doberman puppies tails docked at 3 days old.  Mom kept licking the stitches out.  I brought the puppies in 3 times to the vets to have them stitched again but Mom still licked them out. Know the puppies are going to have scar tissue on the ends.  Can they be fixed when we have the ears cropped??
 
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
 
Many, many bitches lick out stitches.  Most breeders stay glued to the whelping box 24/7 for the first week after docking.  Even then these bitches will find a way to get to them.

The best advice is to leave the tails alone and wait until docking time and have them re-done if they are bad.  Usually once the stitches are removed the bitch leaves them alone.  Many breeders have tried to glue the tails with some success, others try no stitches and some have even tried using sheep castration instruments that put a rubber band around the tail and it slowly slough's off.  All these things have had some success but many have not been any better.


Do not wait until cropping to dock tails however.  It is a major operation and quite painful unless absolutely necessary.
 
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A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
 
Yes the tails can be re-docked at ear cropping time.  If the scar tissue is not attached to the bone it's very easy to clip it off and stitch it back up.  Sometimes the tails will heal from an over zealous mom without even leaving scar tissue.  I would leave them alone until you have the ears done.  They may not be as bad as they seem now.
 


Q: from Gilbert
Date: Monday, August 25, 2003
Time: 07:29:56

Comments: Breeding the Doberman
 
I've a problem with my female Doberman...she already finish her stud session and after 18 days she had spotting again. Is there a possibility that she could lose her puppies if she is pregnant?
 
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
 
It's not unusual for a bitch to spot a couple weeks after breeding. Sometimes it means nothing and sometimes she is aborting the fetus'. Take the bitch to the Vet immediately to make sure she doesn't have an infection or pyometra.

I've had it occur with no problems and have had a normal litter as well but be on the safe
side and take her right away to the Vet.
 

 
Q: from Sandra Menders
Date: August 24, 2003
Time: 18:42:54
 
Comments: Grading the Doberman Puppy
 
Why do a couple of my Doberman Puppies have white patches on their chest?
 
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

There is a spotting gene in the Doberman.  We try and breed for no spots but on occasion, they will pop up.  It's a fault but just a few white hairs is not.  A spot over 1/2 inch is very faulty in the show ring.
 

 
Q: from Craig Rallion
Date: Wednesday, August 20, 2003
Time: 22:34:15

Comments: Doberman Growth
 
My brother is worried because his Doberman at 12 months is only 24 inches tall while my Doberman at 10 months is already 27 inches tall. Both dogs have the same father. Will his dog still grow taller? What is the ideal height of a Doberman at 1 year of age?
 
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

Well, just as in people, some brothers are taller than others.  I'd say the smaller may get some additional height up to about 18 mo. but he may not. Hard to say.  Just the way the genes fall.  Actually, he just needs to grow a 1/2 inch to be ideal in size according to the Doberman Standard.
 

Q: from Jim Gooss

Date: Wednesday, August 20, 2003
Time: 18:42:00

Comments: Breeding the Doberman
 
We just purchased a three month old female Doberman to eventually be bred with our eleven month old male Doberman. However, when we received the females three generation pedigree from AKC we realized that they both share the same great-grandfather. If we breed them, first is it safe and second can the litter be registered with the AKC? Thank you for your time. I look forward to getting your response.
 
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada

Absolutely...that is what is termed a line breeding. Before you do breed though please get any and all health testing on both dogs done as well as learn all that you possibly can about breeding and whelping. It is also hoped that you would show your dogs to their championship before you would even consider breeding them.
 

 
Q: from Craig Rallion
Date: August 19, 2003
Time: 04:41:49

Comments:
Doberman Health
 
My Doberman excretes bloody diarrhea every time I feed him Purina HiPro dog food. Is this related to the dog food or are there other causes?

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
 
You need to first get a fresh stool sample and along with your dog, go to the veterinarian and follow his/her advice. First you must check for internal parasites then go from there.

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 A:  from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

Most top brand dog foods are fine for most dogs, however some dogs may have an allergy to some of the ingredients.  If the diarrhea is ONLY caused when feeding this food, common sense tells you to discontinue it.

I would however take a small sample of the bloody stool in to the Vet as well as take your dog for a complete examination.  Could be hookworm or whipworms or coccidiosis or Giardia.  Many things may cause bloody diarrhea.

Do not waste time.  See your Veterinarian.  It could be quite serious.
 


Q: from Natalie C.
Date:August 16, 2003
Time: 21:13:56

Comments: Puppy Cost $
 
I am purchasing a puppy this winter and I am curious to know how much I will be spending at my vet.  The ears and shots, etc. (thanks)

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

I think part the answer to this question will depend on where you live. I live in Northern California which I believe is a lot more expensive than a lot of areas. Your Veterinarian or his receptionist should be able to give you this information over the phone.
 
One thing that I can tell you though is that most breeders have the ears cropped before you get the puppy. I don't know if you have a puppy picked out yet but that is something that you can look for and easily find in a breeder. That is, a puppy already cropped and
some of the vaccination program already started.
 
Another thing is oftentimes a breeder can help you with the ears if you are close and/or they can set you up with another breeder in your area that can help. There are articles on this web page that can help you too with the after care of the ears (taping).

I hope I was able to provide some assistance to you.
 
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A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
 
The cost of vet services vary from State to State but you can expect to pay anywhere from $200.00 to $300.00 for an individual ear crop.  Shots can cost quite a bit at the vet but a lot of states have shot clinics where you can take your puppy in for a much lower cost. Check with your local pet stores for these clinics.  However, you do need to be sure you are getting good vaccination protection from Parvo and other puppy illnesses. 
 
Some vets will charge you for an office visit and vaccine (usually $15-20 or more).  Most breeders order the vaccines from a pet supply and give their puppies the parvo/distemper etc. vaccines.  If you have a litter this is the least expensive way to protect the puppies.
 
Hope this helps. 
 

Q: from Phil
Date: August 16, 2003
Time: 8:09:02

Comments:
Breeding the Doberman
 
What causes the Dobie bumps and how can you get rid of them?
 
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

A person would have to have a little more information about your Doberman and possibly even see him/her before they could advise you. I would advise you to take your Doberman to your vet. Sometimes young Dobermans get what I call a staph infection call folliculitis that causes bumps. It is normally treated with an antibiotic for 3-4 weeks. He could also have an allergy or any number of problems. Please see your veterinarian about these bumps.
 

Q: from Angie M

Date: August 15, 2003
Time: 18:20:06

Comments:
 
I have rescued a 1 1/2 year old male Doberman/Chocolate Lab mix from my local SPCA. His coat and markings look like a red Doberman but his head and body shape are Lab. I have also just purchased a red Doberman puppy (female) who is 9 weeks old right now. The Lab is fixed and she will be too as soon as she is old enough. Right now they get along famously. He is very patient with her and you don't normally see one without the other. He lets her take food away from him as well as any toy he is playing with. Sometimes she seems to be very aggressive with him (growling, barking in his face, jumping at his head). He deals very well with this and I always try to separate them when she gets too excited.
 
This is my first experience with a Doberman puppy and I was wondering if this is normal puppy behavior or should I be doing something other than separating them and making her calm down? I have had experience with this breed in the past but always with adults. I'm a little unsure what pups generally act like. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 
Also she seems to want to eat my cat. She will listen to me when I tell her no but she consistently goes for the cat every time until I make her stop. The other Dobermans I had co-existed with my cats without a problem so I know it can be done, any suggestions other than get rid of the cat?
 
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
 
Don't get rid of the cat! You need to start teaching your new little Doberman her parameters. When she chases and bites the cat or your older dogs face or your hands or whatnot, you need to intervene and go to her and tell her "NO" or "LEAVE IT" (in a growl like tone-like mamma dog would) and stay with her and keep at it (correct her) until she stops and then praise her. Another way is to do all of the above and tell her NO, GOOD GIRL when she stops and give her a toy saying "TAKE THIS". If she is really wild you can take her by the scruff of the neck and push her to the floor using the growling tone and the word "NO"! One of the articles below explains this further.
 
Your puppy is not too young for you to start training and for her to learn the word, "NO" as well as other things. There are several articles on this site for you to read for guidance. Here are a few of my suggestions:
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/nipnipping.htm
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/outmeansno.htm
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/Isaidwait.htm
 
You can also check out our articles page for yourself for more -- it is located at www.breedered.com/article_menu.htm.
 
You can also buy the book, Super Puppy, How to Raise The Best Dog You'll Ever Have, by Peter J. Vollmer at www.superpuppy.com for $8.95. It will be a great investment.

Again I say that your puppy is not too young to start training and learning the word, "NO".  I have a saying and that is anything that you do not want your dog to do at 60 to 90 pounds, don't let her ever do it at any age. I hope that this helps.

Oh yes, give your older dog a break from her too once in a while. Also teach the puppy to respect him while he is eating. One day she will but she should still learn to do so now. You need to be the boss of the dogs. The longer that you let her get away with this disrespectful and unruly behavior, the worse she is going to become.
 

 
Q: from Melissa McKie
Date: August 7, 2003
Time: 13:39:11

Comments: Feeding
 
I will see the vet Saturday when we go for our Proheart but I want to call upon your expertise as well.  My 12 month Doberman has very loose stool. I feed him Innova dry food which is supposed to be very good and is expensive. The only supplement I give him is fish oil/omega fatty acid capsule (forget name of product) every other day. I used to feed him Nutro but at 6 months his hair was splotchy and I didn't know if he had a food allergy or staph. Treated staph with vet, had thyroid checked (normal) and changed diet. His coat looks great but loose stool every day. Somebody mentioned switching to Natural Brand by Royal Canin.  Any thoughts on the what to feed a Doberman? I loved Nutro but it didn't have things like apples and carrots and other vegetables. My Doberman loves the taste of Innova. Thanks so much.
 
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
 
Just as in people, some foods do not agree with every dog.  If the stools are just soft and not formed well and only once or twice a day, it may not be much of a problem.  If they are "puddles" and frequent then he's not absorbing his food.

First have a complete stool analysis done by the Vet to rule out anything else that might be causing the problem.  You might mix half and half this food with another and see what happens.  Otherwise, forget the brand and go for something else.

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A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
 
I looked and I see that Judy has answered this. This girl might also need to check the dog for parasites, worms, coccidia or giardia.
 

 
Q: from: BK
Date: August 6, 2003
Time: 5:02:16

Comments: Doberman Health
 
My 16-month red female Doberman recently started what appears to be trying to bite her tail or lack thereof.  I'm not sure if it's biting her tail or if she is trying to scratch herself.  It seems very peculiar as she does it abruptly as if she is trying to catch a bug.  When she does it she tends to want to stay down and not want to get up.  Also, all of a sudden she refuses to go to bathroom in the place we have trained her to go to bathroom in our yard.  Also, she seems to shake off (like she is wet) more often than typical.

I have read about various behavioral disorders and was wondering if these are known behavioral or physical related problems.  Any insight you can provide is appreciated.
 
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
 
I think that if this behavior is a new thing that she could have a sore or something new going on with her tail. I am sure that you have inspected it pretty thoroughly. Sometimes at this time of year flies sit on the tail and the edges of the ears and bite away. You can try a product called Fly's Off and spray it on the tail and ears for that particular problem.
 
Other than that, I don't know what to tell you except see a veterinarian.
 

 
Q: from Michael Miles
Date: Wednesday, August 6, 2003
Time: 02:36:01

Comments: Doberman Health
 
I just adopted a 21 month old red Doberman.  His prior owner let the cropped ears flop.  Is it to late to correct.  Or can something be done?
 
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox Kennels, Canada
 
I'm sorry but I think it is too late to do anything about the ears IMO. I did know a 14 month old male that this happened to though and the owner re-cropped him and both ears stood BUT each dog is different. I will check with some other breeders though to be sure and get back to you.
 
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A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
 
It's usually too late to correct, but it might work with taping.  First of all, are you sure they are cropped to begin with?  If so, try taping ears as shown on our eartaping pages.  You don't have to use the posts inside ears as you're not trying to straighten them.  Tape ears all the way up, then be sure to brace them together as shown. Leave tape on for about 5 days but keep checking to make sure no smell or irritation is being caused.  If so, take them down immediately. 
 
If the ears will stay up for a short time then it looks promising.  Keep taping but make sure you take them down every 5 days, leave them off for a while (hours to a day) depending on any sores.  Clean them thoroughly each time and keep trying.  May take months to achieve if it's going to work.
 
*** *** ***
 
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
 
As the others say, try taping. Also you could take your dog to a cropper that knows how to correct this problem.

You may be looking at a surgery of some sort. There are also a few methods that can be tried. Your dog will look a lot better with the ears standing. There are veterinarians that specialize in ear cropping around the country. Depending on where you live, perhaps one of use can direct you.


 
 
Q: from Eric Castillo
Date: August 4, 2003
Time: 20:43:52

Comments: Doberman Health
 
I saw worms in my puppy's feces, what does that mean and what do I need to do?

A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox Kennels, Canada
 
It means your puppy has worms and you need to get him to a veterinarian to be de-wormed.
 

 
Q: from Mark E. Georges
Date: August 1, 2003
Time: 15:41:59

Comments: Doberman puppy with another puppy

We have a 3 month old male Pug (about 6-7lbs) and are getting a female Doberman puppy.  The female Doberman is 8 weeks old, and I was wondering if you think that we might have a problem with the dogs getting along since one of the dogs is of much greater size than the other.
 
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox Kennels, Canada
 
No but you will have to police their time together so that the puppy understands that she cannot bounce off the Pug nor can she be too rough with it. They learn fast. I have a MinPin bitch and a cat who get along great with my big guys and vice versa. I know many Doberman breeders that have smaller breeds as well with the same type of success that I enjoy.

*** *** ***

A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
 
It shouldn't be a problem, however you should monitor their time together constantly while they are young as pups don't know how strong they are and the Dobe might injure your Pug pup while playing.  Once they are old enough,
no problems should arise as to size.  The Pug will put the Dobe in it's place, LOL.
 

 
Q: from Diane Luck
Date: Thursday, July 31, 2003
Time: 10:38:42

Comments: Doberman Health
 
What is the best way NATURAL way to have a shiny coat?

 
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
 
The best way is to pretty much leave it alone.  If it's a black there's usually no problem.  If Red or a Dilute, limit any sun bathing.  Very few baths and if you do bathe, make sure you use a good conditioner after and rinse, rinse,
rinse.
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A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

A natural way to have a nice shiny and healthy coat comes from within and also from working with the coat from the outside. A good diet with raw fats and oils (vegetable, peanut, walnut, etc) is helpful. I personally like to feed fresh raw beef (hamburger) with 25% or more as part of the diet. Some kibbles are better for Dobermans than others and your location can play a role in that too.
 
From the outside, lots of petting is great. Also daily brushing. Actually I have found that a product called Orange Wonder mixed with water and you can add a tablespoon of baby oil to that (shake it up) and spray it on the dog and wipe with a towel with the hair coat. What you want to do is brush and work on getting the dead coat out and you may need to get a curry type brush too so the new coat can come and by doing this everyday you will rotate the coat. It is sort of like, out with the old and in with the new, kind of thing. When and if you bathe your dog , use a dog shampoo, not a human one. The dog shampoo's ph balance is correct for the dog.

For more personal help, I can help you with a diet, but I do need to know how and what you are feeding first.

 

 
Q: from Shirley
Date: July 30, 2003
Time: 18:09:28 AM

Comments: ear braces
 
My Doby had her ears done at 9 weeks and after 5 wrappings she still has one ear that bends. Is their a brace out there to use instead of the tapings? I have been taping and it still drops on the tip.

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

I usually tell people that in most cases you will be taping ears until your pup is six months old and sometimes even older. There is an article on our site that can help you with taping throughout the whole time. The ears should be standing at 12 o'clock without flapping in the air when she is moving around. Here is the URL to that article:
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/ears1.htm.
You can print the article out to have on hand for reference. I recommend that you scroll to Advanced Taping Part 1 and advanced Taping Part 2 by Carol Petruzzo. This article has photos and I feel it is very easy to follow. Actually you have to just keep clicking next at the bottom of each page until you get to those particular pages.
 

 
Q: from Davianne Youngblood
Date: July 28, 2003
Time: 14:40:13 AM
 
Comments: Doberman Health
 
My Doberman just had her first period, she started last Monday. When will she stop bleeding and when will she be in heat? When do I need to keep her away from other dogs, males?
 
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
 
The day your bitch starts to bleed is the first day of her season.  Dog people don't call it a period.  She will stay in season approximately 3 weeks. Keep her away from any males from day one to day 21 and even then, watch her closely.  I had one bitch conceive on days 29 and 31.  I've also had them conceive on day 7, so for the best prevention, keep them separated.  If she is not going to be shown I'd have her spayed a couple weeks after she goes out of season and you won't have to worry about it any longer.
 


Q: from Gilbert Badiola
Date: July 27, 2003
Time: 10:41:28 AM

Comments: Rottweiler

My 6 month old Rottie recently has had hair loss. I asked my vet and he said that it is only  a food allergy. Others say it is mange. How would you know if it is mange or a food allergy?

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

For mange (caused by mites) your vet will need to take a skin scraping and look at it under the microscope. For food allergies your vet needs to do more testing or one can guess at it by taking away one thing at a time to see if it corrects itself. I don't advise doing the latter however.
 
Your Rottie could have any number of problems.  Perhaps you should get a second opinion from a vet who specializes in skin problems?
 
If this were a six month old Doberman I would guess that it might have a staph infection which can be cured with the correct antibiotic. I am not a veterinarian however and I don't feel that either you or I should be second guessing and instead should get one or more veterinarian's opinions.
 
On another note, we would like to remind you that this is a Doberman site and as breeders/owners/fanciers of the Doberman, none of us feel qualified to answer queries about other breeds. Hopefully in the future you will be able to get some help from people that are in the know about your breed of choice.
 

 
Q: from Liz
Date: July 27, 2003
Time: 00:48:51 PM

Comments: Breeding the Doberman

Hi, My three month old puppy has suffered conjunctivitis for over a month. The vet gave her some antibiotics, but they did not work. I took her back again, and he told me not to worry about it, that it will go away. But it is still there. Is this normal? What should I do? Any help
will be greatly appreciated.

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

I would treat this until it is cured. I don't know what kind of medicine that your vet gave you but you may need try something different. in the meantime use more of what he gave you.

Usually conjunctivitis clears up pretty fast. Maybe it is something that is causing conjunctivitis such as an inverted eyelid or dry eye or something.

Keep the eyes flushed out and clean (do this at least twice a day) and maybe get a second opinion. I don't know what else to tell you.

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A:  from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

No Liz, This is not normal.  I'd take her to another Vet a.s.a.p.



Q:
from Marsha
Date: July 26, 2003

I have a litter of pups that are 6 weeks old. We had three blues in the litter and they are starting to get these little bumps on top of their head. Kinda looks like a staph infection. I'd rather not but them on any antibiotics due to their age, but of course I will if necessary.
 
I've been cleaning their heads with a mixture of half Listerine and half warm water twice a day. Doesn't look like much improvement but it doesn't look any worse. ANY suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
 
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

For staph bumps I mix 1 part bleach to 4 parts water, a few drops of dish soap or dog shampoo (whatever you are comfortable with) and some baby oil or Keri lotion. Wash their faces with this mixture after they eat.

This prevents staph bumps and will get rid of them. This treatment was given to me years ago by a vet. Since that time I have improvised the formula to do even more. I am sure that this will help. Good luck.


 
Q: from Gilbert Badiola
Date: July 22, 2003
Time: 11:03:06 PM

Subject: Rottweiler

I have a problem breeding my three year old Rottweiler. I tried breeding her five times already and nothing happened. It is her season now and although she is kind of fat, could she still be pregnant?

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

I think that you need to see a veterinarian and if she is not pregnant you need to see a reproductive specialist type of veterinarian. Be sure that she is in good physical condition at the time of breeding which also means that she should not be fat. Perhaps you need to have a thyroid panel and a number of other tests done on her as well. Its even possible that she is not being bred at the correct time in her cycle. There could be any number of varied reasons. She is only three years old so you still have plenty of time.


Q: from Wendy Gupton
Date:  July 20, 2003
Time:  11:59:59

Comments: Breeding the Doberman

My Husband and I  have a 9 month old blue male we are in the process of registering with the AKC. We have a true love for the breed. We would like to breed him. What age is  appropriate and what educational resources are out there to prepare us for breeding? Also, what is the best way to advertise for breeding?

His markings are beautiful! He will weigh around 90 pounds.  Please advise. Thanks.

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

I am sorry to be so long in answering your question but it does require a detailed answer.
First of all, breeding dogs in general is both a responsibility and an art. By art I mean that a person must spend a lot of time learning quite a lot about the Doberman before a breeding ever takes place.

At 9 months your dog is too young to be bred. By that I don't mean that he cannot breed and sire puppies but that he is too young to do a lot of the temperament and health testing that should be done on all breeding stock before being bred. That health testing consists of Von Willebrands Disease (VWD) testing, a full thyroid panel, hips and elbows x-rayed, CERF test done on his eyes and last but not least, his heart should be monitored with a 24 hour holter monitor or at least an eco-cardiogram and a sonogram. All this testing should be done due to the inherent health problems in the breed that make it imperative for us to routinely test all breeding stock.

For temperament tests, the DPCA has a WAE (working aptitude evaluation) which is a series of exercises to test the dogs on all of the descriptive words in our standard pertaining to the Doberman temperament.

Secondly, you need to study and learn the Doberman Standard to perfection so you can determine and evaluate your Doberman's good qualities and his not so good qualities, both temperamentally and conformationally (i.e. - his bone structure, angulation, muscling, et cetera.

You need to know as much as possible about your dog so you can determine which females you can accept for your  blue dog and which females you should not accept. For example, if your dog has a fault, and they all do, you will need to breed him to an animal that is correct in that deviation whether it is a temperament flaw or a conformation flaw. The same works for health. If your dog is VWD carrier for example, you would need to breed him to a female that is clear or if your dog is low thyroid, you would want to breed him to a female that is normal thyroid. If your dog is sound sensitive you would want a female that is not sound sensitive or if your dog is lacking heavy bone, you would want to breed to a female who is not lacking in bone.

Needless to say you would have to learn all that you can so that you can make this kind of an evaluation and these kinds of decisions about whether or not you can breed your Doberman to a given female if at all.

Try to find a mentor in your area (I can possibly recommend someone) to evaluate your dog. In this manner you can find out if he is show quality and if he is, you may want to consider showing him in order for prospective female owners to see him and ask about using him at stud. Normally the female owners look for the male and come to you, not the other way around.

I am sure that there is a lot more that I could tell you as I could actually write an book about this. At any rate, here are some of the articles I recommend that you read, starting with the Doberman Standard of perfection.

The following are some articles about the Standard that will help you to learn it in depth:
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/dobes_in_detail.htm
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/doberman.html
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/judging_dobermans.htm
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/doberman_on_the_move.htm
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/how_the_standard_works.htm
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/whys_of_standard_size.htm
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/soundness.htm
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/colorinheritance.htm

The following are some on Doberman temperament:
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/defining_temperament.htm
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/suspicion.htm
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/choices.htm
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/breeders_tools.htm

After you breed your dog, if you decide to do so, you will need to learn even more because you are equally as responsible for the puppies as the breeder (owner of the female) is.

Since you have a blue Doberman there is another article that you should read too. It can be found at http://www.seattle-attorney.com/storm/sup.html. There are many links within this article that will help you learn all about the blue and fawn Dobermans and the individual problems that they can have.

Remember that there are many more articles on this site that can be read and/or printed out including those about a variety of health problems that plague our Dobermans. Please don't hesitate to browse through the site to find more. I hope that this helps you and again, if you have more questions, feel free to ask.


Q: from Gail May
Date: June 05, 2003
Time: 4:03 PM
Thank you so much for your tips, I will certainly try them.  I've noticed that when I have Taki sit and I rub her chest that has seemed to help.  Our other Dobe, Lady, definitely has your "play bow" to a science. 

Let me ask you quickly what you know works for their pulling on the leash -- I had a halter, collar set up on them at the moment because it's the only way I've been able to walk them both together -- I have 2 lines so that I can carefully redirect them when they start pulling and not hurt their noses (I used to train horses, so this is easy for me to do).  But I will tell you frankly I'm unsure which of the many, many methods of "training" to use to correct this pulling.  As long as the halter is on they walk like little children -- the minute it's off, we're off & running again.  I know the halter is only short-term and I would dearly love to get them into obedience/agility training but I know we need to have basic commands down first.

Thank you again so much for your help.
 
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

I think that I would first train them individually and teach each one of them not to pull. I, myself, use the words "don't pull - walk nice" for my commands but choose whatever words work for you as your command words.

There are a number of methods you could try but here is one that works for me. I prefer to take my dogs for a walk with a 6 foot lead and a chain collar and use the gentle jerk and slack method with my command words at the same moment as the jerks. By jerk and slack, it is sort of like reigning a horse, just gentle (but one that they can feel) repetitive jerks and slacks on the collar as you are walking with them.
 
If the dog continues to pull, you can surprise it by doing a quick round about turn with the leash tight and command "don't pull" in a firmer voice than usual (when the leash corrects them from pulling) and walk the opposite direction for about 8 - 10 feet and turn around again and do this a few times and then continue on your walk. Don't forget the command at the right moment of the turn every time. A few times with this method and they usually "get it".
 
After you get both dogs trained try them together and continue the training with them together. Again, I hope that I am explaining this so that you can understand what I am trying to portray.
 

Q: from Gail May
Date: June 02, 2003
Time: 11:36 AM

Subject: Training Older Dobes

I read your online training tips on showing Dobes which were quite informative.  We have rescued 2 females (1 1/2 yrs old) from our local animal shelter and could use some training tips for everyday life -- specifically, one of the girls gets quite excited when we encounter other dogs on our walks -- we're working it out slowly, but she still gets very excited to see other dogs (there are lots in our neighborhood), is not aggressive to them but wants to play, play and will bark and bark, jump, pull -- as I said she's getting better slowly but there must be something else I can do to help the process.  Sometimes she will also drop low and bark at people -- it's not a real protective stance, but I'm not sure whether she wants them to play or stay away -- the bark is very different, it's longer & deeper.  Can you recommend anything or a good information site ?  Many, many thanks.

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

I think that training a dog to calm down in their exuberance over other dogs takes time and if your girl is making progress then just keep doing what you are doing. Another exercise that I like to do is to stop walking and go up to my excited dog and stroke her/him very lightly from the head down to the tail telling him to relax or calm down (some common word) until she does and then continue on, doing this every single time she pulls or whatever.